Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.

CITY AND DISTRICT.
ONE DAY FOR PLANTING TREES.
Arbor Day Now Observed In Two.
thirds Of the States.
WHAT COMMISSIONERS GOTHAM SAYS or THE sENTT-
hENT AND UTILITY OF THE PRACTICAL CIRCULAR
FROM THR AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
This Is the tree-planting month. About ten
years ago people throughout the country began
W Work up sentiment In favor OF tree planting,
anu the governors Of many of the States since
Inen nave set aside certain days in the spring
seneraiiy IN April-as "arbor day." In Penn
sylvania to-day is "arbor day." when all the
school children and thousands of other people
VIII plant little shrubs which they hope to live to
see grow Into great trees. They viii make gen.
erai picnic OF it In other States other days have
oeen selected, according to the climate In Illinois
arDor day fell on the 18th. In New Hampshire
ana connecticut 1t Will be observed on the 3Oth OF
this month.
THE IDEA GROWING IN FAVOR
zine IDEA, said Mr. Colman, the Commissioner
VI Agriculture, to STAR reporter, sIs growing In
favor every year. In my report for 'S5 stated
lnaI slxteen states had set aside a day in each
year ioI planting trees. Since then the governors
OF otner States have declared an arbor day, ard
Sfa Stale ~ now celebrated In two,thirds Of the
mental custom. The purpose is to educate
I Psopie 70 proper appreciation and love OF
rate trees are now being chopped down for
lumper. there win be no forests in the North
s west a IN zen years There must be sentiment.
celebration Of Arbor day is beautiful custom, and
children in most Of the states go out on that day
watch with great pride. They plant them in
groups ana IN every place they find room for
ohot Gne pack yard the front yard the parks
they can"
HISTORICAL TREES.
MANY groups are planted in honor of distin-
guished men," continued the Commissioner. "Last
year sent some white pine trees to be planted in
President Cleveland. The last report was that
they were doing well. Groups are planted all
over the country in honor Of the great soldiers,
little book compiled in celebration Of arbor day
Inc names OF some OF the famous trees. There is
elm the B. British A'1Rs
brought there as prisoner. There is the
N weeping g.on willow, grown from branch
at St Helena which shades the grave OF Cotton
Mather There was the ''old liberty elm," that
usea 10 stand In Boston, and the washington elm,
command OF the Continental Army; and there
was the famous Charter Oak. How many trees
nave become almost as famous as great men!
'tFROA BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW"
he continued, 'it Is important that the forests
should be protected and some means of compen-
satfng for the loss by the axe adopted. Arbor
day does great deal In this direction, and the
department. takes great interest in it. 1t
Is ey to see how the
ing should be encouraged in every way.
"The work OF the forestry division ofthis depart
menC Is progressing. There ought, however, TO be
some action v Ia Qfat fn
serve the forests now standing"
CIRCULAR OF TIE FORESTRY DIVISION.
The Department OF Agriculture has just issued
the following circular, which Is being sent to edu-
catiOnal men throughout the country:
"The forestry division OF the Department OF
Agriculture, primarily created to promote pop
ular understanding OF the vital interests which are
centered In the forest wealth OF the United states
has directed Its principal effort hitherto toward
Investigating the conditions OF the forest AREAS OF
the country, and the rapid decrease Of the most
valuable a % sources OF supply and has shown the
agement and reproduction, by which alone the
perpetuation OF an ample supply OF forest products
The array OF statistics Collected and Reported al.
ready by this agency should suffice to awaken
greater popular interest in the solution Of so mo-
been manifested.
.'HithertO we have destroyed our forests for the
sake OF immediate pecuniary gain or convenience,
with reckless disregard Of consequences or of the
future supply OF material SO valuable and even
necessary for almost all pursuits and for the
which by the denudation Of their forests have lost
their agricultural fertility and which have SUI
fered also from great climatic changes, should be
selves to guard against similar experience by
taking measures in season to arrest the course OF
destruction which has prevailed and to adopt a
system OF wise forest conservation.
"1n marking out the line of future work to be IN
dertaken by the division OF forestry, the Commits
sioner OF Agriculture deems 1t OF great Importance
IA oh rfn hot fo1lf
gence OF the coming generation Is 1ntruSted should
be specially invited to take calm consideration
OF THIS long-negected subject, Schools of every
grade, without departing at all from their proper
work can supply some practical lessons in regard
to the object and use OF forests the nature and
ence or absence, awakening thereby the interest of
pupils In kind OF knowledge too little fOstered In
the schools OF the agricultural classes In schools
lions in botany and natural history in general In
colleges forestry should be presented In lectures
on its various relations to arbonculture, agricul-
popular and higher education, we may establish a
popular system OF forestry suited to the peculiar-
tues OF our country and Its people We shall foster
which VIII tend to make our youth content with
rural life, instead of being overcome by the at
fractions OF the great cities
''The Commissioner calls special attention to the
value OF oolect,lessons In any branch OF study,
and recommends to all heads Of the higher educa-
tiOnal institutions, as far as In their power, to
cause the grounds of their respective institutions
to be planted with collections OF forest and orna-
mental trees and shrubs, grouped in accordance
with their botanical relations or with q view to
successful growth by system of Judicious mix
ing OF kinds for mutual protection. A general
adoption OF this recommendation would soon con-
vert the much-negiected grounds surrounding
our colleges and schools into park Like groves OF
great attraction, the opponents OF correct taste
In Ornamental planting, and perpetual volumes Of
forest botany and arbOriculture. In like manner
might the study OF botany be promoted and pop
ularized by the culture OF representative kinds
OF plants united In accordance with their sys-
temauc relationship. Botanical parterreS OF
plants both economic and Ornamental, might
easily be introduced into the school grounds Of
the country, through which much useful infOrma-
ton, both practical and scientific, would be i'm
parted assisting rural life in its onward course to
q higher plane OF culture.
'"rheC Commissioner will take pleasurein promoting
the adoption OF his recommendation, as far as in
his power by contributions of plant material, and
has especially instructed the western agent Of
the forestry division, Prof N. g. Kern Of ST. Louis
Mo-, professional landscape gardner, to CORES
pond with all who desire further Information or
advice In the design and improvement OF the
QNOnn0S Of odunQ